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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003483
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ, INR/P
E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRCKMDRKPAOIZBAGHDAD
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION;
BAGHDAD
SUMMARY: Discussion on the Constitution was the major
editorial theme of the daily newspapers on August 25, 2005.
END SUMMARY.
-------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------
¶A. "Committed Period" (Al-Bayyan, 8/25)
¶B. "The Overwhelming Majority" (Al-Fourat 8/25)
¶C. "A Kurdish Vision for the Iraqi Constitution" (Al-Taakhi
8/25)
¶D. "Devils of the Constitution" (Az-Zaman, 8/25)
¶E. "The Favorable Disagreement" (Ad-Dustoor 8/25)
¶F. "Money, Power, and the Constitution" (Asharq al-Awsat
8/25)
¶G. "Who Wants to Divide Iraq?" (Al-Adala 8/25)
---------------------------------------
SELECTED COMMENTARIES
---------------------------------------
¶A. "Committed Period"
(Al-Bayyan published in Arabic a page four editorial about
the constitution by Zainab Al-Khafaji)
"The National Dialogue Council's position opposing
concerning the draft constitution may prevent it from wide
participation in the constitutional process. Initially the
draft of the constitution was drawn up following an accord
that was reached by the majority of Iraqi political parties
that ostensibly represent the people. Therefore, these
discussions cannot be described as based on ethnic power
sharing because discussions on the constitution led to an
agreement amongst politicians.The recent dispute on pending
issues does not represent a refusal of the draft
constitution but it is a good chance for political parties
and blocs to end their disagreements. I think that these
disagreements are insignificant if we compare them to the
issue of the Ba'ath Party's destiny in Iraq and the
distribution of powers.The National Dialogue Council must
understand that it has to reconsider its attitude especially
after the Kurdish coalition and the United Iraqi Alliance
agreed to postpone ratification of the constitution in order
to grant them more time to settle pending issues. Prime
Minister Ibrahim Al-Ja'afari said that this resolution is
necessary and that every thing must be resolved within three
days because the current period is a decisive and sensitive
one. Otherwise, the National Dialogue Council will squander
a big opportunity to actively participate in the upcoming
constitutional process."
¶B. "The Overwhelming Majority"
(Al-Fourat published in Arabic a page-two editorial by Majed
Fadhel Al-Zaboon on the referendum)
"The technical process for the upcoming referendum still
remains unclear. The majority of Iraqis say they are unaware
of the voting procedures, which is the responsibility of the
Iraqi electoral commission!...Some of the voters think that
the electoral process involves a simple `yes' or `no' on the
draft constitution; such a procedure would deprive Iraqis
the right to explain their opinions about good and bad
principles and the basics of the draft constitution. The
Iraqi electoral commission should not render the referendum
process a generic one because Iraqis must express private
opinions about their new constitution.If this process is
difficult to achieve, the referendum process should include
disagreement points, this is the way our new constitution
will gain legitimacy. An accepted compromise to satisfy all
Iraqi sects should be designed to enable us to rebuild and
to succeed in our political and democratic process without
any marginalization or neglect for any Iraqi sects. This
will be the way we can reach our national compact and
independence and force the occupation forces to leave our
country.The upcoming constitutional referendum should
include all Iraqi sects (specifically the opposition)
because some of the constitution articles should be removed
and others affirmed. The majority of Iraqis should decide to
accept the draft constitution, not the minority. And
everyone must participate in the upcoming referendum process
to decide for Iraq."
¶C. "A Kurdish Vision for the Iraqi Constitution"
(Al-Taakhi published a front-page editorial in Arabic by its
Editor-in-Chief, Badr Khan Al-Sindi on Kurdish views of the
constitution)
"The Kurdish Parliament has approved and supported the draft
constitution. President Barazani said that this draft is a
great achievement (especially during this period) despite
the inclusion of some items that do not coincide with
Kurdish ambitions. Kurdish support comes as a reply to those
who want to blame the Kurds for attempting to obstruct the
genesis of the Iraqi constitution.For the second time, the
Kurds have proved that they are committed to the main
principles, which were agreed upon with various political
parties at points earlier. The Kurds want to make this
constitution successful and they've placed emphasis on the
principles of reconciliation and the wide participation of
all Iraqi sects. However, we must not cede our legitimate
national interests, ambitions, and right to decide our
destiny. We think that the current draft constitution will
strengthen the federalist experiment in Iraq in a way that
reinforces unity without the marginalization of any other
sect.This is a new Iraq, which must be based on equal
distribution of resources apart from the control of the
central government that devastated the country. We do not
think that the current constitution satisfies Kurdish
desires. However, we see that there are some chauvinistic
and dictatorial mentalities trying to impart the
constitution with tyrannical ideals. Everyone must
understand that Iraq is moving forward and the federal
solution is the best way to solve all problems. As we
approach the referendum, we hope that Iraq will enjoy peace,
economic prosperity, and deep democratic awareness. We hope
this awareness will not surprise Iraqis one day when they
hear that the Kurds want to decide their own destiny."
¶D. "Devils of the Constitution"
(Az-Zaman published in Arabic a page six editorial by Jihad
Zayyer about the constitution)
"Today Iraqi politicians, most of whom lack real political
professionalism and sufficient experience, will discuss the
draft constitution in the national assembly. At the same
time, Iraqis will, and perhaps negatively, deal with the
items of this constitution because they want to know the
results of politicians' disagreements over pending
issues.Iraqis have the right to know the details and
implications of the constitution's articles, which will
govern their lives. We know that the majority of Iraqis, who
for instance harbor anti-federalist attitudes, lack
information on governmental structure especially in
countries that have ethnic diversity. Hence, they have the
right to be suspicious of current Iraqi politicians because
they do not know what the Iraqi people need. Current
political parties are still distant from the people and
these parties are ignorant about people's intentions and
orientations. Current Iraqi politicians speak about
federalism, the role of religion in government, and the
equitable distribution of natural resources. On the other
hand, the government's offices are filled with
corruption.These politicians want to occupy Iraqi minds with
complicated political concepts. But, how can a nation that
was marginalized from real political participation
understand concepts that may contain devils and disasters?
Modern concepts and the sound policies of politicians alone
cannot help Iraqis reveal the true intentions of these
politicians."
¶E. "The Favorable Disagreement"
(Ad-Dustoor published in Arabic a front-page editorial by
Bassem Al-Sheikh about the Sunni rejection of the
constitution)
"The Sunni rejection of the draft constitution submitted to
the national assembly is a healthy reaction; they initiated
publicity campaigns to encourage `no votes' in the upcoming
referendum. Disagreements and different points of view are
normal in life and dealing with such issues should be done
in a civilized way; democracy means different points of view
and more importantly how much influence one can
wield.Therefore, the responsibility of those who reject the
constitution is to create an influential opposition and
enough supporters to back that opinion and then to have the
influence to change and rule the political process. The
technical processes are good because it keeps the process
within the safety margins; public oversights, international
political scrutiny, and the media have all witnessed the
birth of the new constitution.Now parliamentary members have
legitimate authority to discuss every single article in the
constitution. They will not permit a premature constitution
to pass and even if they did, the majority of Iraqis will
say no in the upcoming referendum. This is the Iraqi will
and public influence in the democratic process. The Sunni
powers which are protesting through conservatives on the
draft constitution committee decided that the upcoming
referendum will be their way to say no to a constitution
that does not include all their rights and demands."
¶F. "Money, Power, and the Constitution"
(Asharq al-Awsat published in Arabic a page nine column by
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed about the Iraqi constitution)
"There are several points of the disagreements inside the
TNA that postponed the agreement on the constitution.Sunnis
made a mistake last year by boycotting the election and are
paying for it now. Realizing the scope of this mistake,
suddenly their leaders are now calling for participation in
the political process. Today, the Shiites and the Kurds
would be making a grave mistake if they did not grant the
Sunnis guarantees in the constitution. Without the Sunnis,
the large, powerful state of Iraq will turn into a number of
weak small states.It is surprising that the constitutional
disagreement has become Shiite-Sunnis or Arab-Kurds. The
deepest disagreements are within each team, not among teams.
The real disagreement is between the Islamists and the
secularists, within both Sunni and Shiite communities. It
will deepen in the future, because the constitution is not
dealing with the fundamental issues."
¶G. "Who Wants to Divide Iraq?"
(Al-Adala published in Arabic a page five editorial by
Zuhair Al-Baghdadi on federalism)
"No one has the right to accuse any Iraqi of not being
patriotic, because each one of us has his own position about
the correct path toward a new nation. We are Iraqis before
anything else. The argument now is about federalism and its
implementation in the new Iraq. On one side, they believe
that federalism means the division of Iraq into small
separated states, weak and easily swallowed by neighboring
countries. As such, it is bad and all Iraqis must reject it.
On the other hand, there are those who believe that it will
not result in weakness and division, Iraq will become like
other federal countries that have one border, one
constitution, one flag and one identity.the people will
determine whether accept it or not, they will express their
opinion through the referendum on the constitution. People,
not political factions will determine our destiny. Let us
stop talking under a particular sect or nationality, we are
all Iraqis.Some say that the Kurds should have the right to
implement the federalism, but that the Arabs in the southern
or the central areas should not, claming that Iran or the
Gulf States will interfere. This is unacceptable. One can
not claim the right of federalism for one part of Iraq and
not accept it for another. Federalism is the fair
distribution of resources, it will speed up the
reconstruction, and create job opportunities. Furthermore,
it will establish security and stability, by granting
greater authority for the districts and provinces."
Khalilzad